Study in Australia

Australia is well-known for its highly competitive environment, strong economy, vibrant cross-cultural atmosphere, and spectacular landscape scenarios. In the most recent times, international students prefer this incredible location to excel their potentials and gain expertise in various career-oriented options. It is the leading and rapidly growing country in the world or in the 21st century, who offers multiple affordable academic or vocational courses for international students.

Australia has a wonderful intent of migration history throughout the times and the local and immigrant communities communicate in various dialects like Chinese, Italian, Greek, and hundreds of Aboriginal languages. This country thrives with innovative ideas and fostering the needs of every local and migrate individual to provide quality education and high-quality of life.

Why Study in Australia?

For many, Australia means kangaroos in the outback, or the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge at New Year. But when you look beyond those, you'll discover why so many international students choose to study in Australia, and it often ranks in the top 10 best countries to study abroad.

If you're looking to study at a university in Australia, you will find numerous study opportunities, combining excellent education with beautiful landscapes and vibrant cities. It also boasts world-class universities, a diverse and welcoming population, and one of the world's most generous grants and bursaries. And it's all backed by a national culture that welcomes visitors so much that they often decide to stay.

Why choose Australia for study? Here are a few reasons:

• Generous funding for international students. Australia is one of the world's most generous nations when it comes to education, offering a range of bursaries and grants for students.
• World-class universities. Australian universities regularly feature in the top 100 of world rankings, but with a rigorous education system, you can be sure of a top-quality education wherever you study in Australia.
• The stunning natural landscape. Australia is renowned for its diverse beauty, from gorgeous beaches and reefs to breathtaking desert plains and mountains. The Australian landscape and wildlife are like nowhere else on earth.
• A welcoming nation. Australia has been welcoming people for hundreds of years, and it's just the same for students. International students can study any topic, and the student visa enables them to work - whether that's to support their education or fund their adventures exploring the country.

The Australian welcome is not just down to the national history and culture though, the government has set explicit standards that universities must meet for international students to ensure that they have all the support they need while they are studying.

Australia has 43 universities, mostly publicly funded. And all are research institutions, helping to support their academic credentials and making it the world's fourth most popular destination (after the UK, US and France) for PhDs.

Combined with Australia's vibrant culture - whether it's relaxing or surfing on the beaches or sampling the nightlife of the cities - and the opportunities that its generous student visa offers, the country has become a leading destination for students, with over half-a-million students heading to Australia every year to earn their bachelor's or master's degree.

What are the best universities in Australia?

What makes a university 'the best' is a matter for debate, but the Times Higher Education ranking for 2023 suggests that the top five are:

• University of Melbourne. Australia's second-oldest university, it has also produced more Nobel Laureates than any other Australian university and is arguably the country's leading research university.
• Monash University. Another leading research university, Monash is the only Australian member of the M8 Alliance of Academic Health Centers, Universities and National Academies. Its world-leading research resulted in the first IVF pregnancy, the development of antiviral drugs, and the breakthroughs in stem cell research.
• The University of Queensland. Offering a strong research focus, the university has over one hundred research centres and institutes, with many focusing no medicine and technology.
• University of Sydney. A consistently high-ranking university, both in Australia and globally, the University of Sydney is particularly strong in arts and humanities, and social science and business subjects. QS ranks it as the fourth most employable university in the world.
• Australian National University. Organized into colleges that lead teaching and research, one is the Asia and the Pacific college, making it a world-leading centre for study and research into the history, culture, and policy of the Pacific region.

All five appear in the world top one hundred, where they are joined by UNSW Sydney and the University of Adelaide.

What are the top student hubs in Australia?

• Melbourne tops the league in the QS rankings of student cities, coming fifth in the world thanks to its high student satisfaction scores. For international students, Melbourne is perhaps Australia's most diverse city, with approximately 94,000 international students.
• Second (and ninth in the world), is Sydney. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Sydney's cosmopolitan outlook, combined with a concentration of Australia's best universities, makes it an attractive destination for any student.
• However, Australia, unlike most other countries, is notable for not having a dominant set of cities. And this perhaps explains why a further five Australian cities - Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, and Gold Coast - make a total of seven in the QS world top hundred best cities for international students.

How much money is required to study in Australia?

Education in most of the world is expensive and, sadly, Australia is no exception. Fees vary between universities and courses, but the Australian government's Study Australia website offers a single place to get an overview of the courses available and their costs.

Tuition Fees in Australia

For both Bachelor's and Master's degrees, fees range between AU $12,000 to as much as AU $65,000 a year. Typically, most are between AU $25,000 and AU $35,000 a year. Fees are broadly the same for both on-campus and online options.

Domestic students, which includes not just Australians, but also New Zealanders, pay significantly lower fees. Students are required to contribute to their tuition, which is based on ability to pay and capped. It means that some students will not have to make any contribution, but no one will pay more than the maximum.

The government caps vary to encourage students to study subjects where there are more employment opportunities. Law degrees, for example, have the highest cap at more than AU $15,000. However, for subjects like agriculture or nursing, the contribution will be just over AU $4,000.

Like most places, there will be incidental costs that the student will be expected to meet, such as books and equipment. However, Australia also requires students to take out health insurance with an approved provider, which typically costs around AU $50 a month. However, students from New Zealand and some European countries can gain an exemption because of reciprocal healthcare arrangements.

Language requirements

As an English-speaking country, all courses in Australian universities are delivered in English. You will therefore have to demonstrate fluency. Either by being a native English speaker or having passed English language tests.

Individual universities and even courses may have their own requirements. However, most major English language tests are recognised and accepted.

• IELTS. This test scores between 0 and 9 for listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English. A typical requirement will be an overall score of at least 6.5, with no individual skill below 6.
• TOEFL-IBT. Like IELTS, the TEEFL-IBT gives individual scores for listening, speaking, reading and writing, with a maximum of 30 in each category. You will usually need at least 85 overall, with minimums of 17-19 in each category.
• PTE Academic. This test gives scores for speaking, writing, listening and speaking, each with a maximum score of 90. Universities often ask for a score of around 60, with a minimum of 55 in each of the 4 skills.

Cost of living in Australia

The cost of living can be subjective, and much will depend on your expectations. Students are often masters at living inexpensively in even the most expensive locations! However, most independent sources suggest that Australia is one of the most expensive places to live in the world, with a cost of living that is significantly higher than, say, the UK or USA.

The government's Study Australia website provides a cost of living calculator that indicates the likely costs you will incur, even looking at the frugal lifestyles tends to suggest annual costs of around AU $20,000.

Perhaps predictably, the most expensive cost is accommodation, which can be more than AU $2,000 a month for an apartment in Sydney city centre. But even 'cheap' activities can be expensive, a typical meal in a low-cost restaurant will be around AU $25.

Cost of food in Australia

The cost of food in Australia, like everything else, is high when compared internationally. While the prices will vary depending on lifestyle - a vegetarian diet will be cheaper than a meat-eating diet - you can typically expect to spend around AU $500 a month on food, and significantly more if you eat out regularly.

Student accommodation in Australia

You will need somewhere to live while you study. The options available to you will depend on your university, its location, and your preferences.

• University provided accommodation. Many universities will have accommodation they manage for students. But few will have enough to house all their students, though, so it is often prioritised for particular groups, such as international students and first year undergraduates. Check with your university to see what they have on offer and how you can apply.
• Managed student accommodation. Privately run student accommodation is becoming increasingly common, especially in urban locations. These will typically include a room which shares communal facilities such as living areas, kitchens, and bathrooms. They will usually include costs like energy and internet, some will even include things like servicing, or have canteens on site.
• Private renting or leasing. Although more common for the second year and after, when you have established friends with whom you can share, there are lots of sites that can help you find places to rent, often targeted at students.

When to apply for student accommodation

You can find out when to apply for university accommodation through your university website. However, if you are considering private options, it's sensible to start looking as soon as you have confirmation of your place. There is usually a high demand for accommodation, especially in cities, where students can find themselves competing with everyone else to find somewhere to live.

Work and study in Australia

The Australian student visa allows students to work while they are in Australia. This can be useful whether you need the income to fund your studies, or simply want some extra cash to enjoy the experiences that the country has to offer.

Are international students allowed to work in Australia?

Working hours for international students in Australia are limited to 48 hours every two weeks during semesters, and unlimited during vacations. However, unlike some countries, there are no limits on where that work is, or what sector it is in. It means that students have a wide-range of job options.

Indeed, apart from the limit on working hours, student visa holders have the same benefits and work protection as any Australian, even having the right to start their own business.

Where can I find jobs?

The first place to start is with your university. Their career service will usually have a host of jobs that suitable for students, often from employers that are specifically looking for student employees.

Residing in Australia after studying?

After you have finished your studies in Australia, you might decide that you want to stay there. If you do, you want be alone, a lot of the expats in Australia never intended to stay, until they fell in love with the country.

However, your student visa stops being valid when your course ends, so you will have to apply for a new or different visa. Australia is very strict about immigration, so if you want to remain in the country, it's worth preparing well before you graduate.

University application in Australia

For domestic students, applications to universities are done through a number of state-based central admissions systems, for example, the Victoria Tertiary Admissions Centre for universities in Victoria or the Universities Admissions Centre in New South Wales and ACT. Although there are differences between each scheme, candidates can make multiple applications, listing universities by preference in each, meaning they are able - with just a handful of formal applications - to apply to dozens of universities.

Unfortunately, international students, regardless of the level of course they are seeking, are not included in the process. Instead, international students have to apply directly, and individually, to each institution.

Exactly how you apply for university in Australia will depend on the institution. Each university has its own application process. While these are all very similar, there may be slight differences between each, so make sure you carefully check the requirements of everywhere that you want to apply. Missing a deadline or a crucial document could make the difference between getting your dream course and having to settle for something else.

You will also need to submit a range of documents as an international student. These will, obviously, include your academic records, but also some personal documents, such a copy of your passport and documents attesting to your identity. In some circumstances, universities may also be required to confirm your eligibility to enter Australia.

Finally, although you do not have to pay course fees, you do have to pay to apply to university, more specifically, you will be charged an application processing fee. This fee is levied by almost every university and is usually between AU $50 to AU $150.

The structure of Australian academic year

Australia's academic year is similar to many other Western universities and operates a semester-based year.

• Undergraduate degrees are typically three years, or four years for an honors degree. Postgraduate degrees are one or two years for a Masters, and three for a PhD.
• Most universities have two semesters a year (although a few operate with three trimesters)
• The academic year starts in March.
• Many universities and courses offer two starts a year, but not all, so check if you want a September start.

When to apply for Australian universities

Because international students apply directly, and most universities offer two starts a year, applications are almost always open for international students. Check with the university, though, since some do close applications at specific periods, or have courses that only offer a single intake a year.

Generally, the deadline to apply for university depends on the preferred start date. For those hoping to start in the first semester, applications must typically be made by December at the latest, while second semester starts should apply by the preceding May.

However, it's sensible to apply as early as possible. Many universities will process applications quickly, and if you are not accepted, that means you have more time to consider and apply to alternatives.

Documents needed to apply for university admission in Australia

Typically, Australian universities will ask for the same documents needed to apply for university anywhere. These will include:

• A copy of your passport
• Copies of relevant qualifications
• Evidence that you meet the language requirements for the course
• Evidence of any scholarship you are receiving
• A reference or letter of recommendation from a school or tutor
• Evidence of any additional requirements listed for the course

Scholarship application in Australia

Once you have identified the scholarships that you are interested in, it's time to complete the applications. Remember that most are competitive, so there's no guarantee that, however good a match you think you are, that you will be successful. It's sensible to apply for more than you need. There is generally no limit to the number of applications you can make.

Student Visa application for Australia

Some international students will need to apply for a visa to study in Australia. The information relating to requirements is sourced from the embassy and consulate.